Sneak Peak

Adventure of the Year, II

Written on April 6, 2011 at 7:10 am , by Justin W. Hancock

Our next leg of California Spring Trials was off to a great start. Doug and I zipped from the charming little town of Marina over to Salinas, where we visited the headquarters of American Takii Seed. They’re fantastic breeders of garden plants, including two All-America Selections winners for 2011 (Salvia ‘Summer Jewel Red’ and Kale ‘Glamour Red’). And we saw proof that the salvia is a good plant for hummingbirds — there was already a hummer in the greenhouse drinking from the salvias when we arrived at 8.30. The Takii folks promised they didn’t stage it.

Our next stop was just 10 minutes away — at the show house of Sakata Seed America. They had a dazzling facility that was full of color (and ideas). Sakata is the breeder of many garden favorites, so it was like visiting old friends like Sunpatiens, Profusion zinnias, adorable Kameleo mini gerbera daisies (so cute!), and one of my favorite plants, the SuperCal line of xPetchoa (petunia crossed with calibrachoa). Plus, we had the opportunity to visit with a couple of good friends (Hi Jeanine!) and enjoy a really fantastic lunch.

Our bellies full, we jumped in the car and headed 136 miles south to San Luis Obisbo, where Dummen USA treated us to a stellar show at Edna Valley Vineyard. There we saw a dazzling array of new plant varieties, including new colors to the huge-flowered line of Magnum New Guinea impatiens, and new colors to the Potunia series of petunia. (Look at all of the colors they have in Potunia group!) Dummen is also the breeder of Phloxy Lady phlox, and had reprinted my recent blog post on poster next to their display of new Phloxy Lady colors!

Our last stop of the day was Greenheart Farms (over in Arroyo Grande), known for their roses. [Though it was a challenge getting there; our GPS kept asking us to turn left on roads that didn't even exist. And while cutting through someone's pasture might have been a shortcut, I didn't think the rental car agency would appreciate it very much...] One of the standouts was the Garden Treasures line of miniature roses — they’re adorable, super hardy, and flower like crazy. The folks at Greenheart told us that because of their small stature, you shouldn’t be afraid to use them in place of some of your favorite annuals as edging plants in the garden, mixed containers, etc.

Did you hear about Day 1? And check out tales from Day 3 and Day 4!

Adventure of the Year

Written on April 5, 2011 at 6:05 am , by Justin W. Hancock

Every spring, groups of plant breeders, garden center managers, horticultural brokers, garden journalists, and other plant-loving types flock to California for an event called California Spring Trials. It’s where a number of the big plant breeders show off their new varieties you’ll see in garden centers the following year. This year, Doug Jimerson (editor in chief of gardening for the Better Homes and Gardens brand) and I had the pleasure of attending.

It was a six-day journey that started with us leaving Des Moines, Iowa, for warm and sunny California. We arrived in San Jose on Sunday, and promptly started our adventure, driving south about 60 miles to the seaside town of Moss Landing where we met with the folks from Golden State Bulb Growers and saw their amazing selection of callas (and there were some spectacular varieties — lots of golds, some oranges, pinks, whites, and even a couple that were nearly black) and begonias (in the cool greenhouse, the flowers on some varieties were easily 6 inches across).

The next day we got up early and drove over to Gilroy, where we first met with the folks from Danziger and saw a selection of breathtaking new varieties (as well as some old favorites, including the Littletunia series of petunias) — and their lovely pre-made plant combo ideas (the Mixis).

Then it was time to hit the road and drive over to meet with the fabulous folks at Syngenta Flowers — where we saw tons and tons of plants (including Verbena Lanai Twister Pink), had a great lunch, and picked up a lot of ideas for future stories from their displays.

We were next on the road again for a 25-mile jaunt to Watsonville, where we talked to folks at Pacific Plug and Liner, where we were treated to more great plants from around the world, including geranium ‘Dreamland‘ — as well as some yummy chocolate-chip cookies.

The last stop of the day was another 20 miles to San Juan Bautista, where we met with folks from Thompson and Morgan; ABZ Strawberries, which has really fun varieties such as delicious and beautiful ‘Tristan’, HEM (which offers a really lovely series of annual dianthus), and more.

That was just the first leg of our trip. Want to read more? Check out part two — and then part three — and we wrap up with part four!

Who’s the Fairest of Them All?

Written on March 24, 2011 at 3:57 pm , by Doug Jimerson

Last week, for the third time in a row, I had the opportunity to judge the trial gardens at Costa Farms, near Homestead, Florida. At first blush, it seems an easy thing to do—just wander through bed after bed of beautiful flowers on a sunny Florida morning. But, in reality, it’s hard work, evaluating each plant on four important criteria: growth uniformity, foliage appeal, flower power/size, and consumer appeal. Fellow judges included Heather Will-Browne from Disney and Dr. Alan Armitage from the University of Georgia. Here are a few of my favorite picks (left to right, top to bottom) that you should watch for in your garden, this year or next.

• Lobelia ‘Techno Heat, Upright Light Blue’ from Syngenta
• Petunia ‘Blueberry Ice’ from Dummen
• Petunia ‘Littletunia Sweet Pink’ from Ecke
• Argyranthemum ‘Flutterby Yellow’ from Ecke
• Verbena ‘Royal Chambray’ from Proven Winners
• Hollyhock ‘Spring Celebrities Lemon’ from Takii
• Coleus ‘Burgundy Wedding Train’ from Ecke
• Coleus ‘Wasabi’ from Ball Flora Plant
• Viola ‘Sorbet Banana Cream’ from PanAmerican Seed
• Petunia ‘Violet Picotee’ from Ball Flora Plant
• Phlox ‘Phloxy Lady Pink’ from Dummen
• Impatiens ‘Sunpatiens’ (all varieties) from Sakata
• Pansy ‘Blueberry Thrill’ from Sakata

Gardening Fun Miami Style

Written on March 15, 2011 at 6:07 am , by Justin W. Hancock

Last week I had the pleasure of traveling to Costa Farms, one of the coolest companies in the horticultural industry. They trucked me down, along with seven other editors (BHG field editor Helen Yoest, fab bloggers Chris Tidrick and Bren Haas, garden writer Judy Lowe, Apartment Therapy editor Aaron Able, Martha Stewart garden editor Stacey Hirvela, and Southern Living garden editor Steve Bender) for a social media summit.

We tweeted like crazy and talked a lot about the future of our industry. In between that “work,” though, we had plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful facilities at Costa Farms — including their trial gardens (above), where they grow new and recent plant varieties. In addition to being downright gorgeous, these trial gardens are a testing ground to see which plant varieties live up to their marketing hype.

It was fun to see some of their great plant designs (how to incorporate Black Velvet petunia into the landscape, for example), and also how the different varieties stack up against one another.

The Costa Farms trial gardens are open to the public, and they’re definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area.

Sneak Peek!

Written on February 9, 2011 at 8:01 am , by Justin W. Hancock

One of the coolest things about my job is that I get to see new plants before they hit the market. Here’s one I’m really excited to try — Verbena ‘Estrella Voodoo Star’. This variety has the potential to add some real zing to my mixed containers!
What do you think? Do you like it or is it a little over the top for your tastes? Post a comment below!

Hot New Variety

Written on February 7, 2011 at 6:18 am , by Justin W. Hancock

We’ve mentioned how rich, dark colors are a trend in the garden — and here’s another wonderfully trendy plant. It’s called Calibrachoa ‘Superbells Blackberry Punch’ and it’s a new variety for 2011 from the folks at Proven Winners and we think it’ll be an exciting new way to add drama to your mixed plantings.

What do you think? Let us know!